Unlikely Heroes

Chapter 33

The two of them walked back over and talked for a bit. Rufioh grabbed his things and they made their way back to the house. Rufioh described everything that happened to him while he was in France. He even told them about Karkat.

"Lemme see your hand!!" Vriska said after Rufioh was done talking. She ran over and grabbed her brother's hand. "Whoa...." She poked the flat part of where Rufioh's finger used to be. "Did it hurt?"

"Of course it hurt, vriska!" Aranea rolled her eyes. "Why wouldn't it hurt?"

Rufioh smiled, thinking the question was amusing. He then started to remember what happened, him throwing up and passing out. He remembered how terrified he was and how much it hurt and all the beatings. Everything from that night. Karkat, Kankri, Eridan saving him. Cronus and him burying Kankri as Karkat watched in horror. Eridan not saying as word after they left. Rufioh covered his eyes and leaned over, shaking his head.

"Rufioh? What's wrong? What happened?" Spinelli asked, coming over and rubbing his back.

'Is everything alright?? Rufioh?' Damara asked, trying to get him to look back up.

"I-I'm okay...o-okay...I-I'm...-I-I'm okay..." Rufioh said, hugging himself. He didn't want to be afraid anymore.

"Rufioh?" Vriska asked, poking his side.

"Rufioh, it's okay. Nothing's here that's going to hurt you..." Tavros said quietly.

Everyone was saying Rufioh's name, thy voices grew louder and louder in Rufioh's mind. He kept hearing Adam's voice call for him. A loud gunshot rang in Rufioh's mind, the gunshot that killed Adam. "STOP!!!" He yelled, making everyone get quiet.

Simon, the only one who hadn't said anything to Rufioh, looked at him. "Va a estar bien. Yo sé que da miedo en este momento, pero va a estar bien. Conozco la sensación de pensar acerca de lo que viste. que está bien, sólo recuerda que todo ha terminado. (it's going to be okay. I know it's scary right now, but it will be alright. I know the feeling of thinking about what you saw. it's okay, just remember it's all over.)"

"...it hurts..." Rufioh mumbled, looking back at Simon blankly.

"I know..." Simon sighed.

A few hours later the whole family went to the ceremony for the soldiers that had arrived. Everyone was being awarded something, Simon and Rufioh just watched. To Rufioh's surprise he was called up. He received a Purple Heart and a Soldiers Medal for heroic actions. All of the soldiers were thanked for their service and were aloud to leave the ceremony. Rufioh wanted to go see Horuss now, but he knew he couldn't tell his parents.

"Can I go see, uh.., Damara?" Rufioh asked his parents shyly.

"Why? You just got home?" Spinelli asked as they walked back home.

"Ah, c'mon! Let him see his girlfriend!" Simon put his arm around Spinelli. "Like you said, he just got home."

Spinelli rolled her eyes. "Oh fine!" She said, letting Rufioh run off.

Instead of going to Damara's house, Rufioh went to Horuss. He walked over to his house, expecting Horuss to be inside. He was going to surprise him, but instead he saw Horuss outside. "HORUSS!!" Rufioh yelled, causing him to turn around. Rufioh ran over and jumped into Horuss' arms. They kissed and hugged each other tightly. "Oh my god! I missed you, doll!!"

"Rufioh!! I missed you as well!" Horuss smiled, resting his head on Rufioh's shoulder. He kept a close hold on Rufioh's waist, smiling and hugging him.

Rufioh didn't want to let go, ever again. He looked down at Horuss again and kissed him. "Oh my god...I love you..."

"I love you too..." Horuss smiled, placing Rufioh down. Rufioh just hugged him again.

Unknown to them, Damara had been watching the encounter. She was outraged. She couldn't believe that Rufioh had been cheating on her. She knew she had to get back at him somehow, so she plotted a plan.

Rufioh and Horuss went inside and up to horuss' bedroom. They hadn't seen each other in nearly four years, so they got to know each other really well that night. Again, they spent most of the night talking to each other. The only difference this time, was that Rufioh could stay the night. After a few hours of Rufioh regaling terrible war stories, the two of them fell asleep. It was the first time Rufioh had slept in a real bed in years.

It didn't take long for night terrors to fill Rufioh's find. He kept reliving the gestapo torture, burying Kankri, seeing Karkat hurt, Adam dying. His mind made everyone hate him, saying that he wasn't a hero at all. He was a failure. He couldn't even protect his friend. He let his friend die, he let Kankri die. He let Karkat down. He couldn't even save a kid from getting hurt. He couldn't save Mituna, or stop Sollux from seeing. He killed a soldier, probably destroying a family. He began hating himself more and more in the dream.

Outside of the dream he was gripping the blanket and mumbling in his sleep. When he finally woke up, he covered his mouth and started crying. He stared at the ceiling, noticing and remembering where he was. He looked over at Horuss, who had woken up as well. "Rufioh? What's wrong?"

"...I had a nightmare..." That was the first time Rufioh had told anyone about his nightmares since they started.

"Oh..." Horuss said quietly. "It'll be okay... I understand why you're upset. I don't see how you didn't go insane... You'll be fine...you always are...that's why I love you...because I know that you will always protect yourself and others... You'll be alright..." He pulled Rufioh into a warm embrace. "I love you..."

Rufioh hid his face in Horuss' chest. "I love you too..." He muttered quietly, falling back asleep with ease.